This collection comprises the personal and professional papers of Lorraine O'Grady, Wellesley College Class of 1955, artist and writer, dating from 1952 to 2012. The collection includes correspondence, photographs, books, journals, and audiovisual materials.

Preferred Citation

Biographical/Historical Note

Internationally recognized artist and writer, Lorraine O'Grady is best known for conceptual installation and performance art. Her 1980s performance as the persona Mlle Bourgeoise Noire won new acclaim in the landmark 2007 exhibition WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution. Her work has been in such exhibits as the Whitney Biennial and the Triennale de Paris.

O'Grady was born on September 21, 1934 in Boston. She was educated at the Girls' Latin School in Boston and graduated from Wellesley College in 1955 with a degree in economics and Spanish literature. She also attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop from 1965 to 1967 to pursue an MFA in fiction.

O'Grady pursued several career paths. From 1956 until the mid-1960s, she worked for the United States Government. She wrote studies on labor conditions in foreign countries during her time as a research economist at the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. She was a specialist in Cuba, Central America, and French-speaking African countries at the Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence Research.

O'Grady was a translator and businesswoman. From 1968 to 1969, she managed the Mary Baldwin Translation Bureau. She then founded and ran the translation agency Freeman Associates, with top clients including Playboy Magazine and Encyclopedia Britannica. In 1989, she founded Urse Fraser Incorporated which held contracts with Citibank, among others.

During the 1970s, O'Grady also worked as a freelance journalist, writing music reviews for publications such as the Village Voice.

O'Grady did not come to art until the late 1970s. Her work includes both photograph installations and performances. She has also curated exhibitions and has written extensively about the art world in prominent journals. Major collections include Thomas Erben, Eileen Harris Norton and Peter Norton, the Davis Museum and Cultural Center, the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Rose Art Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Harvard Art Museums.

She currently lives and works in New York City, represented by Alexander Gray Associates.

Scope and Content

The collection documents Lorraine O'Grady's life and work, dating from 1952 to 2012. Records cover her education, art career, writings and other professional pursuits. Materials include correspondence, photographs, books, journals, and audiovisual recordings.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into six series: I. Personal; II. Education; III. Art; IV. Professional (Non-Art); V. Writing; VI. Subject Files. Each series is further subdivided into subseries based on format or content.

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Wellesley College Archives

Access

Some materials have been restricted. Access may require written permission.

Conditions Governing Use

Lorraine O'Grady has retained copyright in her papers.

Copyright in some papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright publishing quotations from any material in the collection.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Lorraine O'Grady, 2010-2012.

Processing Information

Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note

The Smithsonian Archives of American Art conducted an interview in 2010 with Lorraine O'Grady as part of the oral history program. Also, the Getty Research Institute houses the records of the art collective the Guerrilla Girls. In the Wellesley College Archives, additional material may be found in the Records of the Class of 1955 and the Records of the Davis Museum and Cultural Center. Additional information is available through O'Grady's websites: http://lorraineogrady.com/ and http://lorraineogrady2.com/ .

Separated Material

Published materials, including books, magazines, and exhibition catalogs have been catalogued separately and may be found here: http://bit.ly/uGsXpO

Keywords

Personal Name(s)

Collection Inventory

I. Personal

Scope and Content

The series includes correspondence identified as "personal" by O'Grady dating from 1961 to 1998, organized chronologically. Some of the correspondence had been organized in binders, an organization which has been retained in the refoldering process. The correspondents include family members and friends.

Scope and Content

This series documents O'Grady's years at the Girls' Latin School in Boston, Wellesley College, Brooklyn College, and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Materials included schoolwork, administrative records, and correspondence relating to 50th reunion planning at the Girls' Latin School.

Scope and Content

This series documents O'Grady's art career primarily through articles and interview about her work, exhibition records, performance materials and documents, and correspondence, dating from 1978 to 2012. Also covered is O'Grady's work with organizations such as the Guerrilla Girls and the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), as well as her participation in lectures, panels, and residencies.

A. General

Scope and Content

This subseries includes artist statements, slide presentations, interviews, and articles concerning O'Grady's art career and projects. These materials date from 1988 to 2011 and are organized chronologically following general folders.

Title

Box

Folder

Artist Statements

7

1

Artist Statements

7

2

Artist Statements

7

3

Presentation Booklets, Alexander Gray Associates

Oversize 2

Press Quotes

7

Slide Binder

Oversize 1

Slide Descriptions

7

1

Slide Descriptions

7

2

Slide Descriptions

7

3

Slide Descriptions

7

4

Slide Descriptions

7

5

Visual Art/Writing 1991-1998

7

1

Visual Art/Writing 1991-1998

7

2

Visual Art/Writing 1991-1998

7

3

Evans, Agana. "Lorraine O'Grady: Between the Boundaries of Performance Theory."

7

Lowery Stokes Sims, "Aspects of Performance in the Work of Black American Women Artists." in Arlene Raven, Cassandra L. Langer, and Joanna Frueh, Feminist Art Criticism: An Anthology [1988] 1988

Scope and Content

This subseries documents O'Grady's work with organizations which raise awareness about issues surrounding the art field, such as the Guerrilla Girls and the Women's Action Coalition (WAC). Also included are planning materials for a proposed conference entitled "African American Visual Arts Conference: Dialogues towards the Future." Included are project materials, correspondence, and newsletters. Materials are organized alphabetically by organization name or project.

See also V. Writing C. On Art for an article written by O'Grady about WAC.

Scope and Content

This subseries contains application materials, administrative records, and planning materials related to honors and residencies awarded, as well as the resulting projects. The materials are organized chronologically and date from 1981 to 2011.

Title

Box

Folder

Applications and Proposals 1981-1982

23

Applications and Proposals 1983-1985

23

Applications and Proposals 1988-1991

23

Applications and Proposals 1994

23

Applications and Proposals 1995

23

1

Applications and Proposals 1995

23

2

Applications and Proposals 1996-1997

23

Applications and Proposals 1998

23

Applications and Proposals 1999

23

LINE. Project Grant 1982

23

Creative Artists Public Service Program (CAPS), New York State Council on the Arts. Fellowship 1983

Scope and Content

This subseries contains lecture notes, scripts, slides, planning materials, and audiovisual materials related to speeches and talks given by O'Grady. Materials are organized chronologically by date of the event and date from 1980 to 2010.

See V. Writing C. On Art for lectures which relate to O'Grady's Olympia's Maid writings.

Los Angeles Country Museum of Art. "Animating Insights: A Conversation on the Work of William Kentridge." Panelist [September 14, 2002] 2002

27

1

Los Angeles County Museum of Art. "Animating Insights: A Conversation on the Work of William Kentridge." Panelist [September 14, 2002] 2002

27

2

Los Angeles County Museum of Art. "Animating Insights: A Conversation on the Work of William Kentridge." Panelist [September 14, 2002] 2002

27

3

National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C, and the University of Maryland, Dept of Art History and Archaeology. "State of the Art: Feminist Art and History in the New Century," symposium. [November 15, 2002] 2002

Scope and Content

This subseries comprises correspondence with museums, collectors, galleries, curators, artists, and other individuals associated with O'Grady's professional art career. The materials are organized alphabetically by the name of the individual, project, or institution. The general "Art Correspondence" files are organized chronologically.

Scope and Content

This series documents O'Grady's professional pursuits outside of her art career. In addition to general employment information such as resumes, the series documents her work as a government employee, a translator, a teacher, and an assistant to Rev. Jesse Jackson, dating from 1956 to 1999.

See V. Writing D. Journalism for material on O'Grady's career as a freelance journalist.

A. General

Title

Box

Folder

Resumes and Curricula Vitae 1974-1992

33

Resumes and Curricula Vitae 1993-1997

33

B. Government Work

Title

Box

Folder

Freedom of Information Act Request 1956-1980

33

1

Freedom of Information Act Request 1956-1980

33

2

Freedom of Information Act Request 1956-1980

33

3

Freedom of Information Act Request 1956-1980

33

4

Freedom of Information Act Request 1956-1980

33

5

"Foreign Labor Information: Labor in Argentina." [June 1959] 1959

33

"Foreign Labor Information: Labor in Uruguay." [June 1959] 1959

33

"Labor in the Sudan." [February 1961] 1961

33

"Policy Research Study: U.S. Government Exchange and Training Programs for Foreign Women." [December 1963] 1963

Scope and Content

This series documents O'Grady's writings including critical works on art, pieces written as a freelance journalist, fictional works, as well as diaries and journals. Materials date from 1969 to 1998.

Some materials are closed to researchers.

A. Autobiographical

Scope and Content

This subseries comprises autobiographical writings such as dream diaries and day journals, as well as creative projects resulting from these diaries. In addition to dream diaries, materials include drafts of an autobiography, as well as letters from individuals who read the manuscript. Materials are organized chronologically by project and date from 1969 to 1982.

See also III. Art B. Performances for performance projects resulting from day journals and dream diaries.

Title

Box

Folder

You, Me. Early draft materials

37

1

You, Me. Early draft materials

37

2

You, Me. Early draft materials

37

3

You, Me. Early draft materials

37

4

You, Me. Early draft materials. Discards

37

You, Me: An Autobiography, draft 1969

37

1

You, Me: An Autobiography, draft 1969

37

2

You, Me: An Autobiography, draft 1969

38

3

You, Me: An Autobiography, draft 1969

38

4

You, Me: An Autobiography, draft 1969

38

5

You, Me: An Autobiography, draft 1971

38

1

You, Me: An Autobiography, draft 1971

38

2

You, Me: An Autobiography, draft 1971

38

3

You/Me

38

1

You/Me

38

2

On the Rim. Day Journal, Book 1. 1979-1980

38

1

On the Rim. Day Journal, Book 1. 1979-1980

38

2

On the Rim. Day Journal, Book 2 [February 24-September 5, 1981] 1981

38

1

On the Rim. Day Journal, Book 2 [February 24-September 5, 1981] 1981

38

2

On the Rim. Day Journal, Book 3. [September 16, 1981-November 14, 1982] 1981-1982

38

On the Rim. Day Journal, Book 3. [September 16, 1981-November 14, 1982] 1981-1982

Conditions Governing Access

Materials in this subseries are currently closed.

Scope and Content

This subseries contains the journals and loose journal entries, not connected with the On the Rim project, dream diaries, or not identified as belonging to a particular exhibition or project. They are organized chronologically and date from 1982 to 1996.

Title

Box

Volume

Restricted: Journal, September 15-December 17, 1982

Oversize 17

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, December 18, 1982-March 22, 1983

Oversize 17

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, March 11-June 9, 1984

Oversize 17

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, Fiction, 1986-1988

Oversize 18

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, April 17-June 22, 1986

52

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, June 22-August 14, 1986

52

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, December 26, 1986-February 22, 1987

52

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, 1986-1987, 1992-1993

Oversize 21

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, August 22, 1987-September 22, 1989

52

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, Art/Career, 1987-1990

Oversize 18

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, Time 1990-1991

Oversize 18

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, "Thinking about Subjectivity"

52

1

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, "Thinking about Subjectivity"

52

2

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, "Thinking about Subjectivity"

52

3

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, "Thinking about Subjectivity"

52

4

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, "Thinking about Subjectivity"

52

5

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, "Thinking about Subjectivity"

52

6

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, January 6-February 3, 1990

Oversize 19

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal Entries, February-November 1990

52

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, Art, 1991-1995

Oversize 21

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, 1992, 2000

Oversize 21

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, July 22, 1995-August 25, 1997

Oversize 19

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

Restricted: Journal, 1996

Oversize 8

Restricted Access

Closed. Access requires special permission.

C. On Art

Scope and Content

This subseries documents O'Grady's writing on art, organized chronologically by date of publication except for the Olympia Maid writings and lectures which are grouped together. Materials include drafts, notes, research materials, copies of articles, and correspondence with publishers. Materials date from 1992 to 1998.

Scope and Content

This series contains reference materials, clippings, articles, invitations, and slides on subjects and individuals. Subjects identified by O'Grady have been retained, including those designated as "Unfiled." Materials are organized alphabetically by the name of the individual or subject.